49ers should (and probably will) trade Alex Smith to a team he agrees to, which is honorable on all sides

NEW ORLEANS–Alex Smith wove through dozens of reporters in a huge hotel ballroom Wednesday morning, got to his assigned place at a table shared with Scott Tolzien, then bellowed in mock horror:

“No podium? Geez!” He was joking, of course, but also kind of not: 100 yards away, Colin Kaepernick held court on the main stage during the 49ers’ media session, by himself, the entire focus of all he surveyed.

Kaepernick is the present and the future of the 49ers offense.

Smith’s status is murkier, of course—he’s the former starting quarterback and currently a bypassed back-up probably getting ready for his final game as a 49er.

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Which just happens to be Super Bowl XLVII against the Ravens.

And Smith understands the entirety of the weirdness—he has never been more popular in the 49ers’ locker room or among the fan base, but mostly because of the graceful way he has handled his mid-season demotion behind Kaepernick.

And only as he and his representatives begin to contemplate life after the 49ers.

So what happens to Smith next? Good question.

There are a lot of unknowns in this situation, but here are a few knowns:

* Smith is at great pains to avoid causing a stir or losing focus before the Super Bowl, but he absolutely wants to be a starter again and knows that almost certainly would have to come with another team.

“I want to play football,” Smith said Wednesday. “I’m not hiding that fact. I love this team, I love being a part of it and what’s going on. But I want to play football.”

By every indication, Smith or his representatives will ask the 49ers to release him from the final two years of the contract he signed last summer (when he presumed he would remain the starter), which would free him to negotiate with every team in the league.

* Smith is still only 28 and there are many NFL teams that could use a QB who completed 70 percent of his passes this season and has gone 19-5-1 as a regular-season starter since the beginning of 2011.

Those teams almost certainly include Cleveland, Kansas City and Arizona.

* No doubt, Smith at a $7.5 million salary would be a great luxury as Kaepernick’s backup for another season; with Kaepernick not eligible for a raise or an extension until after next season, the 49ers could afford to keep both.

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But the 49ers could also really use the money elsewhere—to lock up safety Dashon Goldson long-term, for instance.

And, according to an NFL Network report, the 49ers have decided that they will not block Smith from getting a new start elsewhere.

That jibes with the sense I get: The 49ers will try to trade Smith and if nothing works out quickly, they’ll probably release him before the $7.5 million is triggered.

* The 49ers never tip their hands on this stuff, but when I asked coach Jim Harbaugh if he thought Smith deserved to be a starter next season, he essentially agreed.

“We wouldn’t get into talking about the speculation or the what-ifs… but he is a starting quarterback,” Harbaugh said Wednesday after his news conference. “He’s got a desire to be a starting quarterback and I’m sure that’ll play out.”

* The 49ers like Tolzien, the current No. 3, though it’s still up in the air if they’d be willing to go into next season with Tolzien as their most likely No. 2 QB behind Kaepernick.

Is Tolzien ready for a promotion?

“That remains to be seen,” said offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who added that he doesn’t know what will happen to Smith, either. “But we feel good about where (Tolzien is) at and the progress he’s made. “Next year we’ll roll the balls out and see where it goes.”

But even if the 49ers are iffy on Tolzien, there are always interesting veteran QBs available every off-season.

* Smith’s teammates want to see him get another chance to start, and they know that means he’ll have to leave the franchise.

“I know Alex and he can play,” said tailback Frank Gore, who was drafted by the 49ers alongside Smith in 2005. “And I know he wants to be ‘the man.’ And for me, I want him to be ‘the man.’

“If he can’t be ‘the man’ here I want him to go somewhere else and have a successful career.”

* The most likely Smith Scenario is a melding of the trade and release options—trade him to a team he wants to go to, if that’s workable.

The 49ers get a better draft pick for him if the trading team knows Smith wants to stay there for the long-term—maybe the difference between a second- and a fifth-round pick, which is large.

These kinds of deals aren’t easy, but an arranged trade would be the proper way to honor both the 49ers’ rights, Smith’s service to the team and all the times he stayed with the team when he could’ve left.

And if the 49ers and Smith can’t agree on a trade scenario, then they should release him, because it’s the right thing to do… after Smith has done all the right things himself.

I think the 49ers are prepared to do this. And, after the twin demotions—from starter to back-up, from podium to table—I’m sure Smith is prepared for it, too.

The Niners should trade Smith to whichever team will give them the best option.

Please recall that when Alex Smith was a rookie, he DEMANDED to be the highest paid player in the history of the draft, he wouldn’t have it any other way, period. Aaron Rodgers said to the Niners he would have accepted a steep discount. Of course pea brained Mike Nolan chose poorly and we all know the rest. Point is, this is a business, Alex Smith made the business decision to be the highest paid player ever, the Niners should make the business decision to trade him to whatever team they please.

marko

Tim,

You (like everyone else) are killing US with your coverage of the 49ers.

Spasebo!

Nipper

Yeah you lay out what should happen. And where did you come up with honor? In Pro Football?

No knock on Alex, but I still have a hard time imagining much of a trade market for him. A trade only makes sense if you think there will be a bidding war for his services. And while I’m sure there will be interest, I doubt it will be as great as some fans think. I believe there’s a perception around the league that, while he’s good, his numbers were inflated by how Harbaugh used him.

Mike

Alex Smith isn’t worth that much, as we are all going to find out during the off season.

niner

Smith stank for years. He was beaten out by Dilfer and Hill with the same personnel., yet he was paid millions and millions! Without Harbaugh he would be nothing: ask yourself how many people chased him last year?
I agree with you Tim, you give him some options but you trade him and get something even if its trading places in the first round. ( see Jets who now are turning to Mornigwig to save Ryans bacon and need to dump a cb to get under the cap in the future) Alex want to start and become the man, if you can make it int NY you can make it anywhere!

NotSoOldBlue

Auction him off between Cleveland and Kansas City. I can’t imagine they’d be OK with him in Arizona, having to play him twice a year.

ASM

Kap is obviously the future and a far better QB for the Niners. But a smart GM would see that Alex can help them with just his lack of turnovers. He will goto a team with an established RB and a strong defense. The Chiefs suit the bill perfectly. They need stable and efficient QB play while waiting to develop a QB.

sffranciscan

A second round pick? A fifth rounder!? Tim, you’re not serious.

Jay Cutler commanded two #1s; Carson Palmer a #1 and a #2…and Alex Smith is only worth a #2 or a #5?

I’d rather have Alex Smith than either of those interception machines, ans I suspect Arizona, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cleveland and Philly would agree.

JamesD1234

The Niners should get the most draft picks they can for Alex and not anything less. Period.

The fact is Alex Smith is YOUNGER THAN BRANDON WEEDEN! And some team used their 1st round pick(22nd overall) on him. And looking at this years crop of QB it is slim pickings. There are many coaches and GMS out there that need a competent QB in order to keep their jobs, so they’ll give a good price for Alex Smith. He may not be the long term answer for any team but he may be good enough to lead a team to a .500 record and let decision makers keep their jobs another year. I’m sure there will be a team that will give up a first round draft pick for Alex Smith.

All this ‘doing the right thing’ BS is good to say before the Super Bowl as to not cause any dissension. But after the Super Bowl, Alex will remain 49er property unless they can get something decent for him.

Jaime

Smith would also keep a pretty nice salary if he was traded. I wonder how much a team would offer if Smith is just an unrestricted FA.

Madden Guru

who said he was the highest paid qb in the draft? if you are a true niner fan you would actually know? he got paid just the same average amount any #1 pick qb. the #1 pick qb that bank on their contract was J. Russell. Smith even restrcutured his contract after his 3rd season bedause he didn’t produce. Smith is a good QB, he was put in a bad sitiuation with offensive coordinators, players & coaches like any rebuilding team would go through after the golden years.

MK

Here is the key point: this is a VERY weak QB class. Alex Smith at 28 is easily the No. 1 option for any team that needs a QB. Look for him to go to KC.

Ben Brung

Simply shopping Smith to the highest bidder or keeping him if you don’t get what you want could likely be a poor football & business decision in the long run.

This team has had the good fortune of cultivating an atmosphere where everyone makes sacrifices for the good of the team. With the talent on the roster, we are approaching the point where this is going to likely involve asking players to restructure contracts & asking older free agents to come to SF for their last good year or two. A lot could be lost by insisting on a deal that screws over a team guy who has earned such respect in the locker room.

Why would anyone sacrifice for a team unwilling to return the favor over what essentially amounts to chump change? It’s hard for me to imagine the team will ignore this lesson from the dynasty of the 80’s & 90’s.

M Opinion

Who’d want this loser P.O.S.? He should be packing up his family right now and moving them out of the Bay Area ASAP. There’s no need for him to be at the Super Bowl because if he’s in the game it means we are losing or will definitely lose the game.